OU vs. UTEP primer
OU vs. UTEP primer
Oklahoma hosts UTEP for its 2022 season opener. What to expect from the Sooners and Miners as football returns to Norman.
✌🏽 Happy Friday, friends. Let’s ride.
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The Main Thing
There’s a football game tomorrow in Norman, and I have no idea what to expect.
Well, I expect a lopsided Oklahoma win. I expect to sweat through my polo. I expect we still won’t know much about this team.
But like many of you, just seeing what Jeff Lebby’s offense looks like in crimson and cream will be fascinating. Does Marvin Mims get more than two targets? How will Eric Gray and Marcus Major mesh with a mostly new starting offensive line? Could defensive tackle Jalen Redmond get in on short-yardage situations and bully his way into the end zone, prompting his Heisman Trophy campaign?
Who’s to say?
But it’s odd to be so lost on what OU’s offense might look like, considering for years, it’s always been how skeptical everyone was of the defense and how it might look, while the offense was assumed to be just fine because of its coach.
Perhaps we all should be equally curious to see how quickly Brent Venables can turn OU back into a defensive juggernaut, but that’s going to take much longer than one game to realize. Maybe let’s set the bar low for Week 1 and just see if some players can actually tackle in the open field. That would be a good start.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your Saturday, just as much as I will. Football being back on our televisions and in our communities is good for the soul. You truly can’t convince me otherwise.
Let’s have ourselves a few Fletcher’s corny dogs. Let’s complain about tailgating locales. Let’s overreact and name Michael Turk the Heisman favorite after Week 1. I want us to get crazy. But most importantly, let’s just enjoy the fall, folks.
It’s been way too long of an offseason. Seeing football back on Owen Field tomorrow ought to be therapeutic.
— Joe
🏈 Game day details
UTEP Miners (0-1, 0-1 C-USA) at No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
When: Saturday, Sept. 3 | Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Place: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman
TV: FOX
Radio: Sooner Sports Network
Spread: Oklahoma -30 | O/U: 57
🏈 The matchup
• Oklahoma defense vs. UTEP’s offense: UTEP's rushing attack never got going against North Texas last week, leading to a whopping 48 passing attempts from quarterback Gavin Hardison, who completed 21 of them. OU replaces plenty of NFL talent in the front seven, but the Miners' 3.6 yards per rush last week might not provide OU's Week 1 opponent with much confidence heading into Norman.
“I know they're a run-heavy team. They kind of got down [against North Texas last week], so they started passing a little more,” said OU cornerback Woodi Washington this week. “I know they're gonna take shots, so that's what I'm excited for.”
• Players to watch on UTEP’s offense: Receivers Tyrin Smith and Reynaldo Flores had 127 and 122 receiving yards, respectively, against North Texas last Saturday. Flores finished with a team-high eight receptions, just one more than Smith.
• Oklahoma’s offense vs. UTEP’s defense: UTEP did little to make life uncomfortable for its Week 1 opponent's offense. UTEP didn't record any sacks and hurried North Texas' quarterback only twice. The Miners' secondary didn't fare much better with only two pass breakups and no interceptions.
What OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby had to say: “The first thing that jumps off the tape with UTEP is these guys play incredibly hard. … these guys have played a bunch of ‘ball and they play incredibly hard. We're gonna have to match that and surpass it to start.”
• Player to watch on UTEP’s defense: Praise Amaewhule, a junior defensive end for UTEP, was an all-conference first-team selection last year with 13 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles to go with his Hall-of-Fame name. The 6-foot-3 defensive end had a quiet day against North Texas last Saturday but did record a fumble recovery.
ICYMI
🎧 New podcast
For this week’s Eyes on Oklahoma podcast, we’re breaking down OU’s first depth chart, previewing the Sooners’ matchup with UTEP and giving you the latest from OU’s players and coaches.
Joining me for the first time this season is Norman Transcript sports editor Jesse Crittenden (@JesseCrittenden), who will regularly join me throughout the fall to talk OU football.
Where you can subscribe to the Eyes on Oklahoma podcast:
🔥 Long shot
My bold prediction this week: Marcus Major scores the first touchdown of the season. Expect OU to show off its uptempo offense early and often. And expect Major to be the guy to punch in a lot of scores this season on short distances. Brayden Willis and Drake Stoops would be my next two candidates.
Score prediction: Oklahoma 49, UTEP 10
📄 Unavailable
Oklahoma could be down a starting offensive lineman to begin the season. Wanya Morris’s status is unclear entering Week 1 as he deals with a minor legal issue, involving his Norman apartment.
⛏ All-time series
OU leads its all-time series with UTEP 4-0.
The programs met for the first time during the 2000 season.
OU hosted UTEP two years later, earning a 68-0 win for its most lopsided victory of the series.
The Miners hosted the Sooners for the first and only time on Sept. 1, 2012, after OU had a previously scheduled nonconference game taken away because the opponent (TCU) joined the Big 12 that offseason. OU won 24-7.
🔍 Future scouting
Trying to get a feel for an upcoming Oklahoma opponent? Here’s the Week 1 schedule for OU’s next three opponents (bolded) after UTEP in order of when OU plays them:
Kent State at Washington, 9:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports 1
North Dakota at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network
South Dakota at Kansas State, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+
⏰ On this day
Historically speaking, Sept. 2 is a terrible day for UTEP against Oklahoma.
Twenty-two years ago today, OU kicked off its 2000 national championship run with a 55-14 win over UTEP. OU also beat UTEP 56-7 on this day five years ago to start the 2017 season.